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[163]
Jonathan having thus gotten a glorious victory, and slain two thousand
of the enemy, returned to Jerusalem. So when he saw that all his affairs
prospered according to his mind, by the providence of God, he sent ambassadors
to the Romans, being desirous of renewing that friendship which their nation
had with them formerly. He enjoined the same ambassadors, that, as they
came back, they should go to the Spartans, and put them in mind of their
friendship and kindred. So when the ambassadors came to Rome, they went
into their senate, and said what they were commanded by Jonathan the high
priest to say, how he had sent them to confirm their friendship. The senate
then confirmed what had been formerly decreed concerning their friendship
with the Jews, and gave them letters to carry to all the kings of Asia
and Europe, and to the governors of the cities, that they might safely
conduct them to their own country. Accordingly, as they returned, they
came to Sparta, and delivered the epistle which they had received of Jonathan
to them; a copy of which here follows: "Jonathan the high priest of
the Jewish nation, and the senate, and body of the people of the Jews,
to the ephori, and senate, and people of the Lacedemonians, send greeting.
If you be well, and both your public and private affairs be agreeable to
your mind, it is according to our wishes. We are well also. When in former
times an epistle was brought to Onias, who was then our high priest, from
Areus, who at that time was your king, by Demoteles, concerning the kindred
that was between us and you, a copy of which is here subjoined, we both
joyfully received the epistle, and were well pleased with Demoteles and
Areus, although we did not need such a demonstration, because we were satisfied
about it from the sacred writings 1
yet did not we think fit first to begin the claim of this relation to you,
lest we should seem too early in taking to ourselves the glory which is
now given us by you. It is a long time since this relation of ours to you
hath been renewed; and when we, upon holy and festival days, offer sacrifices
to God, we pray to him for your preservation and victory. As to ourselves,
although we have had many wars that have compassed us around, by reason
of the covetousness of our neighbors, yet did not we determine to be troublesome
either to you, or to others that were related to us; but since we have
now overcome our enemies, and have occasion to send Numenius the son of
Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, who are both honorable men belonging
to our senate, to the Romans, we gave them this epistle to you also, that
they might renew that friendship which is between us. You will therefore
do well yourselves to write to us, and send us an account of what you stand
in need of from us, since we are in all things disposed to act according
to your desires." So the Lacedemonians received the ambassadors kindly,
and made a decree for friendship and mutual assistance, and sent it to
them.

1 This clause is otherwise rendered in the First Book of Maccabees, 12:9,
"For that we have the holy books of Scripture in our bands to comfort
us." The Hebrew original being lost, we cannot certainly judge which
was the truest version only the coherence favors Josephus. But if this
were the Jews' meaning, that they were satisfied out of their Bible that
the Jews and Lacedemonians were of kin, that part of their Bible is now
lost, for we find no such assertion in our present copies.

Flavius Josephus. The Works of Flavius Josephus. Translated by. William Whiston, A.M. Auburn and Buffalo. John E. Beardsley. 1895.

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